by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Luke 17:1--19

Unprofitable Servants

When we have obeyed the commandments of the Lord, does He owe us thanks? Listen to Jesus,

10 "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do'" (Luk. 17:10).

What profit do we bring to the Lord? Look at it this way. If we cease serving Him, what does He lose? He only loses us, but that does not diminish from Him at all. If we serve Him, what does He gain that He did not have before? You see, God does not need us, but He wants us. We cannot boast of our value to Him as though He could not make it without us, for truly, we cannot make it without Him, but He does just fine without us.

He stated loud and clear in the death of His Son that He wants us. Let us, therefore, not brag of what use we are to the Lord, but let us boast of His love for us.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Luke chapter 16

Self-Justification Versus God's Justification

The Pharisees were lovers of money. Therefore, they scoffed at the teachings of Christ that were against materialism.

15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God" (Luk. 16:15).

We can drum up some good reasons for justifying ourselves so that we might fool all men into believing that we are right. However, there is One who looks past our self-justification. He can see into the deep recesses of the heart. He is God. What do men see of you? What does God see of you?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Samuel 12 and 13

The Courage of Nathan

After David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed, God sent Nathan the prophet to David to show that the Lord knew about the whole thing, and that God was taking action against David for it. Nathan presents a parable that got David to see the sinfulness of taking that which is not yours. Once David made that acknowledgement, here is what happened,

7 Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man..." (2 Sam. 12:7).

Nathan knew that David was a mighty warrior, that he had just ordered a man killed, and that David could continue to do these things. Nevertheless, Nathan went in the boldness of God and told David what needed to be said. May we all learn to have the boldness of Nathan.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Samuel 14 and 15

The Power Hungry

Absalom, the son of David, was hungry for power.

4 Moreover Absalom would say, "Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice" (2 Sam. 15:4).

Watch out for people like Absalom. He sounded as though he was genuinely concerned with Israel's welfare, for he said that he wanted to give the Israelites justice, but that was just it, he wanted to be the one who did it, although a system was already in place. His hunger for power eventually brought his downfall, but not before he did considerable damage, causing shame to Israel, and bringing others down with him.

Keep your nose buried in the Scriptures that you might not be led astray.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Samuel 9--11

Uriah the Honorable

After David committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and she became pregnant, David summoned Uriah from a war and told him to go home, expecting him to sleep with his wife, so that it might appear that the child was his. Yet, Uriah did not go home, but stayed with the servants of the king. David questioned Uriah about why he did not go home. Hear the noble words of an honorable man as he speaks to the king,

11 And Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing" (2 Sam. 11:11).

How can he have pleasure while his fellow-soldiers are engaged in warfare? This is an honorable man. He did not think of himself, but he put himself in the sandals of others. May the great God of heaven give us more honorable men and women like Uriah, who did not seek self-pleasure first, but the good of the cause that is greater than they are.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100